£17 million raised for the DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal in just two weeks thanks to the generous British public
Media Contacts: 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)
Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 900
** Spokespeople, case studies, recent photos and footage are available**
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) today announced that its Indonesia Tsunami Appeal has now raised a total of £17 million in two weeks, to help the survivors who are in urgent need of humanitarian support. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales joins thousands of members of the public who have also donated to this humanitarian crisis.
200,000 people urgently need humanitarian assistance right now - a quarter of them are children who have suffered unimaginable trauma and continue to be shaken by hundreds of aftershocks which have hit the area since the earthquake. Over 10,000 people are injured and 80,000 people are displaced sleeping in makeshift shelters and are in desperate need of food, water and medical care.
The DEC’s Indonesia Tsunami Appeal was launched on 4 October to raise life-saving funds for the people affected by the events in Indonesia. The appeal was launched by well-known figures including Jason Issacs and Dan Snow, and has been supported by numerous celebrities including Christopher Eccleston, Susan Calman, Wayne Rooney, Hugh Laurie, Jamie Oliver, Simon Pegg, Bear Grylls, Tom Jones, Sharon Osborne, Sara Cox, Kathy Burke, Peter Crouch, Myleene Klass and many more.
Generous support has been received from the British public, corporations, trusts, schools and community and faith groups. The UK Government has matched pound for pound £2 million donated by the public to the DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal through its Aid Match Fund.
The actor Christopher Eccleston, currently starring in RSC’s production of Macbeth at the Barbican, visited Indonesia 13 years ago with British Red Cross to see the response work after the 2004 tsunami hit the country.
“Until you visit a disaster zone like that, it is very difficult to comprehend the level of chaos and loss. What the people had been through individually, and as a country, was incomprehensible. And now the beautiful island of Sulawesi has been devastated. A tsunami kills quickly. But it also kills slowly. It not only takes away lives, but in seconds it sweeps away the basic necessities of life and leaves people hungry, homeless, and vulnerable to disease.”
Thirteen DEC member charities and their local Indonesian partners are working closely with the Indonesian authorities to provide food, clean water, first aid and emergency shelter, as well as helping survivors to cope with the traumatic experiences they’ve been through.
Rori Oryza, 29, was one of the 10,000 people who have been seriously injured. Whilst running to safety, a large crack opened up behind her and swallowed her mother. Rori also fell into a crack and was pinned under a car. Her right leg is shattered and she is currently recovering in a makeshift shelter.
“My home is totally destroyed and flattened to the earth. I have one baby, she is alive. But my other family members are yet to be found under the debris.” Rori received help from DEC member Islamic Relief and their local partners in the form of medical assistance, food and shelter.
Images of Rori are available here.
DEC CEO Saleh Saeed says, “We are so incredibly grateful to all who have supported the appeal for their kindness and their generosity to people who are thousands of miles away. There is still much more to be done, so if you haven’t donated yet, please donate today.”
What your money could buy:
· £30 could provide emergency shelter for one family
· £50 could provide a family with food for a month
· £100 could help build toilets and washing facilities for a family
To donate £5 by text send the word DONATE to 70000. Or visit dec.org.uk
To make a donation to the DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal, visit www.dec.org.uk, call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque. To donate £5, text DONATE to 70000. Texts cost £5 and the whole £5 goes to the DEC INDONESIA TSUNAMI APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information, go to www.dec.org.uk
Stay up to date with developments in Indonesia, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts with the DEC on twitter: www.twitter.com/decappeal or on Facebook via www.facebook.com/DisastersEmergencyCommittee
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)
At times of very great need, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together a unique alliance of the UK’s leading aid agencies and broadcasters to maximise fundraising and quickly deliver effective emergency relief. The DEC brings together 14 major UK aid agencies: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.
UK Government match funding will go directly to the DEC. This funding has doubled the value of the public’s own donations up to £2 million and will ensure that charities working on the ground can reach even more people in need.
Funds raised will go towards humanitarian assistance in Indonesia, Sulawesi Island.
To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
Donations can be made at any high street bank and at Post Office counters.
To donate £5 text DONATE to 70000. Texts cost £5 and the whole £5 goes to the DEC INDONESIA TSUNAMI APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk
Appeal image can be downloaded here. Further photos, footage and spokespeople are available.
For the further information about the Prince of Wales, please visit www.princeofwales.gov.uk or call 0207 024 5506.
